A random collection of musings, observations, links, comments, analysis and thoughts on pop culture, television, movies, music, sports and life in general from someone who has painfully eschewed therapy.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Before I get to some quick thoughts on the Idol performances last night, can we all just agree on this: the show's producers and director should be FIRED. Or, Fringe style, taken to a portal to another dimension and CUT IN HALF and left for dead. Because really, the consistent incompetence of this season is unparalleled in any dimension. You have the number one show on television, and as talented a group as you've ever had, and week after week the show runs as smoothly and efficiently as the Washington Generals. You've added a fourth judge, who sounded great and credentialed on paper, who ultimately adds nothing except for the occasional insipid, head-scratching comment (Studio 57? "Early" Aerosmith?). Every week the show runs over time, and manages to do LESS with the allotted time than previous incarnations of the show. How is this even possible? Take last night for example. Traditionally, the top 3 have performed 3 songs (their choice, judges choice and Clive Davis choice), and managed to fit in 9 songs. Instead, we had each contestant do 2 songs (their choice, judges choice) for a total of 6 performances, and they not only ran the additional 4 minutes over that my TiVo indicated, but yet another minute after that! All so we could watch MORE of the interminable and content-free squawking between the panel of "judges," 75% of whom can't use the English language with any degree of clarity? REALLY? How the hell can this be happening week after week, without heads rolling down the halls of FOX and 19 Entertainment?

Sheesh.

As for the performances themselves, let's just say I was underwhelmed.

The Douchebagdidn't melt any brains with his off key shrieking this week, but he did a passable version of Paula's choice of an obscure Terrance Trent D'Arby song, and did a predictable and schmaltzy "You Are So Beautiful."

Kris did what he could with Randara's choice (and then they criticized him for how he performed it) save for a bad falsetto, and actually offered the best performance of the night, an autotuneless version of a Kanye West song (as I twittered last night, how does one interpret Kanye WITHOUT USING ALL CAPS?).

And presumed winner Adam was very solid with Simon's choice of "One," but then disappointingly chose and screamed his way through the "early" Aerosmith song "Crying." There were rumors Simon was going to give Adam Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game," which would have been much, much better. (I would have loved to hear him do "Solitary Man," also from Isaak).

Obviously, the final two should be Adam and Kris, and according to DialIdolthis morning, it looks like America agrees by a slight margin.

No matter who the final two are, we have one more "performance" show to cope with next week, and we'll see if they can actually fit in some "singing" (because you know, this is a "singing competition," or so I've heard from the morons at the desk) between the inane banter.

Regardless of who wins, the producers need to do a full housecleaning on the staff in the offseason, and offer a contrite, apologetic meaculpa to the audience for the abject fuckery with which the show has been run this season.

2 comments:

How can this consistent incompetence be considered acceptable? It's the biggest show in TV history, and not only can they not manage to bring it in on time, but there are constant audio and video problems. The backup singers were RIDICULOUSLY loud last night, especially on that early Aerosmith classic, "Cryin."

Which, by the way...do you think Adam picked that on purpose, just a big F-you to Kara? Because, if so, that's just another reason to hope he wins this thing.

Yeah, I didn't even get into the audio/video problems. A frakkin' (engage Kanye ALLCAP) TRAINWRECK. I have no idea what's going on behind the scenes. it's like appointing Uwe Boll to direct the sequel to The Dark Knight or something.

I just want an EW cover story at the end of the season that says "Idol Producers Admit Massive Fuckups. Promise to do better."

I'm not sure if Adam picked that as a STFU to Kara or not (funny if he did, but he seems so normal and gracious -- as evidenced by his comments about his fellow contestants last night), but I would have preferred he sing just about ANY other song, even from the Aerosmith catalog.